Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the designation status of a natural heritage area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10683/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, published in January 2014, provides detail on arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 raised bog natural heritage areas. The review concludes that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network which entails:

1. The cessation of turf-cutting on 36 natural heritage areas, which will remain designated - this includes 7 sites to be divided, with part to be conserved and part de-designated;

2. The de-designation of 46 natural heritage areas - including the relevant areas of the 7 sites to be divided - where it has been judged that their conservation potential is expected to be marginal and/or restoration would be prohibitively expensive for the conservation benefits achieved. Domestic turf-cutting may continue on these sites; and

3. The designation as natural heritage areas of 25 currently undesignated raised bogs, which are in public ownership or where there is reduced turf cutting pressure. These sites are to be proposed for designation to make up for the loss of habitat within the natural heritage area sites where domestic turf cutting may continue.

The purpose of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 is to give legislative effect to the outcome of the 2014 Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network. The Bill was passed by the Dáil on 13 December 2018. The Bill was passed by the Seanad on 6 November 2019.

16 amendments to the Bill were made in the Seanad. The Bill has to be restored to the Order Paper of the Dáil in order for these amendments to be considered by that House.

The site referred to in the Deputy's Question is one of those scheduled for de-designation.